Tokyo, April 11: Japan’s ruling party has lost the local elections following what people call the government’s inability in tackling the country’s nuclear crisis.
The Democratic Party of Japan lost nearly 70 seats in Sunday’s elections for prefectural assemblies as well as losing to the Liberal Democrat Party (LDP) in three gubernatorial elections, Reuters reported.
Though ratings for Prime Minister Naoto Kan have increased to 30 percent from 20 percent since March 11 quake and tsunami, the ruling party’s heavy loss is blamed on him for his handling of the crisis, observers said.
Analysts believe Kan will not be forced out of office until the nuclear crisis is under control, saying his party will form a coalition with the LDP. However, LDP officials see slender chance for such a plan.
Kan’s popularity sustained a heavy blow following his support for the US military bases in Japan, saying it is necessary for the region’s security. Japanese people, however, have voiced disagreement over the military presence of the US in their country.
Meanwhile, Fukushima nuclear plant operator Tokyo Electric Power Co says it will stop releasing water into the sea on Monday.
The engineers tried to pump sea water into the reactors to cool the nuclear core and then discharged the contaminated water into the Pacific Ocean.
According to the National Police Agency, the number of the dead and missing from the quake and tsunami now stands at over 28,000.
——–Agencies